FOUR WINDS THE WALKER

In their second album Taralie Peterson´s sister, Tracy joined in the band. She started to play mostly percussion instruments, so the other members had more possibility to play all those extraordinary instruments like Zither, Mbira, Spike Fiddle. Spires had always used also banjo, cello, autoharp & harmonium. Band also changed their record label into US Secret Eye Records, that became their record company in three albums. Secret Eye Records was run by Jeffrey Alexander, who was musician himself. It seems label hadn´t been active after 2009. Although Wikipedia says Spires toured throughout US, Canada and Europe, I haven´t found any other information about tours from internet. But they had some gigs at least in Belgium, Netherlands and Austria in 2006-2007. There exists also interesting, but bad quality live piece from Abbey Pub (Chicago?) 2007 in YouTube.

"Four Winds" is short prelude. In next "Wide Awake" music is very desperate and dark, but much softer than in their first album. There is really great drumwork by Tracy and string instruments are in the top. "Little For a Lot" is sad, but very melodic. It has really great vocals from Kathleen. Also Georgia´s Zither playing is wonderful! This became one of my favorites immediately! Georgia, Kathleen and Taralie are singing in "Sheye". It has three different parts and atmosphere varies from hysteria to sadness. "Sort Sands" is sad valse where Kahtleen sings again in a very beautiful way, also from the very high in the chorus. "Ong Song" starts with Tracy playing Mbira. Soon comes Zither and very strange sounding slide guitar. This is sad, but quite experimental piece. "This Ain´t For Mama" is the albums longest song. I think it´s "rock music" in way Spires play it! In end it changes quite pastoral.

"Shining" is one of the highlights in this album! Tracy´s Mbira playing is again great and both Kahtleen and Taralie have awesome vocals! Listen this song and if you don´t fell in love in Spires, it´s not your band. But bands magnificence continues into next "No Matter"! Tracy plays thumb piano through some effect and it has so interesting sound. Very beautiful piece again with Kathleen vocals! "Imaginary Skin" is really folky piece, goes little bit more into first albums direction. Great cello playing from Taralie! "Serum" is long but really hypnotic piece. In "the May Ham" Georgia´s lap slide has again some strange effect, that makes it sound more like saw. Taralie´s banjo sounds in some parts like Sonic Youth guitars! "Born In a Room" is a some kind of mad folky piece, but it has very beautiful middle part. "The Walker" is a short, same kind of outro as "Four Winds".

Bands music took really big step between two first albums! This album almost got the genius of the next two albums! When all four member were in this band, they recorded their greatest albums! As a three member band they made their another masterpiece "Curse the Traced Bird", but when also Vallas left, bands direction changed into more serene. That was not bad, but I love more colorful and also shocking style of the earlier albums. Anyway I really hope Kathleen and Taralie will continue this great band as duo! "Four Winds the Walker" came originally only in CD and digital format. So there is really a need of 2lp version of this excellent album!